Weight loss is a common issue in many parts of the world, especially in North America, and finding healthy solutions is the goal of many people. Exercise is an obvious healthy choice, as well as diet change, but there are also certain drinks or foods that can help accelerate weight loss in a meaningful way. Yerba Mate tea is one.

Yerba Mate is a popular drink from South America that is traditional to several countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. It is actually one of, if not the most, consumed drink every day by people. Yerba Mate itself is a plant, and the twigs and leaves are taken and used to create Yerba Mate tea. If prepared traditionally, Yerba Mate is prepared in a gourd, and it is drunk through a metal straw with a filter to strain out any leaves and particulates.

Various Ways Yerba Mate Aids in Weight Loss

Yerba Mate has a large number of health properties to help regulate the body and boost energy levels and metabolism. As well, it does contain caffeine, so, similar to coffee, it should be taken in moderation. It is recommended to limit Yerba Mate tea consumption if you regularly smoke tobacco, or drink alcohol, as well as if you have irritable bowel syndrome. But with that out of the way, let’s move onto the health benefits of properly ingested Yerba Mate.

Yerba Mate tea is full of various nutrients that affect the metabolism of the human body. Xanthine and caffeine are both capable of increasing metabolism through improved energy levels in the body, and with increased metabolism, the body is able to burn through fats quicker, reducing weight. As well, compounds within Yerba Mate can help improve bile flow, improving the rate at which food breaks down in the digestive tract and allowing the body to use the good right away rather than storing it.

Antioxidants are also a common method for facilitating weight loss, and Yerba Mate tea, like many teas, has polyphenols that help reduce calorie intake, stimulating fat reduction and helping friendly gut bacteria.

Yerba Mate tea, with its caffeine and other nutrients, also helps improve the effects of your exercising and workouts. It has been shown in studies that consuming 1g of Yerba Mate ground leaves before an exercise can help burn 24% more fat, and it can increase the body’s reliance on fat for energy, improving fat burning and weight loss.

Another method by which Yerba Mate tea helps weight loss is that, like many teas, it helps reduce appetite, and since it is low in calories and fat-free, it keeps you feeling full longer, reducing your food intake and allowing you to lose weight.

Like many adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms, Yerba Mate tea is capable of reducing stress in your body. It also allows it to stay in a state of repair longer when it does get stressed, greatly reducing the chance that your body will burn out from prolonged exposure to stressors. Yerba Mate contains theobromine, which is also available from chocolates, and this relaxes the body in stressful situations by controlling or reducing the amount of cortisol your body can release during stressful situations. Cortisol has a common side effect of increasing cravings for unhealthy snacks, fatty foods, and sugars, so the less cortisol released by your body, the less chances you have of gaining weight from excessive snacking.

The anti-inflammatory properties of Yerba Mate tea can have a wellbeing boosting effect on your body, but, in particular, it’s helpful for your blood flow and cholesterol. Yerba Mate has been found, in some cases, to reduce the risk of heart disease by helping reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). With lower LDL cholesterol, the chance of obesity is reduced, therefore it is easier to manage your weight better.

Yerba Mate tea offers a lot of health benefits that directly affect your body’s ability to burn fat, reduce its ability to store fat, and improve overall gut and heart health. With proper care taken to not drink unsafe amounts, it can be a great boost to your energy levels, weight loss, and overall wellbeing.